Nathaniel Page

1703

 

Nathaniel Page was born September 4, 1703, probably in Bedford, Massachusetts.   He was the son of Nathaniel Page and Susanna Lane.   He was known as “Cornet” Nathaniel Page.   He was chosen selectman at Bedford’s first town meeting in 1729 and was a “foundation member” of the Bedford church in 1730.   He married Hannah Blanchard in about 1729.   She was almost certainly the daughter of John Blanchard and Mary Blanchard of Billerica, born October 14, 1704.   If so, she had a brother named David and a sister Abigail, which fits in with the fact that Hannah (Blanchard) Page had a son David and a daughter Abigail.   (See Descendants and Ancestors of Edwin Bond Blanchard, 1949)

 

Nathaniel Page died April 4, 1779 in Bedford.   His wife Hannah died September 7, 1763.   Her tombstone states that she died at age 59 --if she was the daughter of John Blanchard she would have actually been almost seven weeks short of 59 years old.   She and Nathaniel are buried in the Old Burying Ground at Bedford.   His tombstone reads:

 

                   Death from all death has set us free;

                   and will our gain forever be;

                   Death loosed the rusty chain of woe;

                   to let the mournful captives free.

 

His will mentions daughters Hannah French and Abigail Brown  [Sources:  Lane genealogy, Brown’s Bedford; Bedford Cemetery records in DAR Library]

 

Children:

 

  1. Nathaniel, b. May 22, 1729, Billerica
  2. Thomas, b. May 5, 1733; d. July 31, 1809; m. Anna Merriam
  3. Hannah, b. May 15, 1736, Bedford; d. Apr. 2, 1793; m. Jonas French
  4. William, b. Feb. 19, 1737/8; d. Feb. 10, 1802; m. Patte Hill

He was in the Revolutionary War.

  1. David, b. Apr. 4, 1740, d. June 11, 1819; m. Abigail Jones

Called “King David” on account of his “lordly manner and adherence to the continental costume.”

  1. Susanna, b. Jan. 22, 1742; d. Jan. 26, 1772
  2. Abigail, b. Sept. 5, 1745; d. Aug. 5, 1799; m. Nathaniel Bowman Brown